AD001

What is the overall structure of athletics in Wales?   

AD002

What is the management structure of Welsh Athletics?

AD003

How does Welsh Athletics fit into the UK structure?

AD004

What are the Regional Boards responsible for and how do I contact mine?

Section 2 - Welsh Athletics Affiliation (ref. AF001 - AF011)

 Can anyone affiliate to Welsh Athletics?

 AF003

 I live in England can I still join Welsh Athletics?

 AF004

 Our club would like to join Welsh Athletics - how do we go about this?

 AF005

 What are the benefits of joining Welsh Athletics as an individual?

 AF006

 What are the benefits of joining Welsh Athletics as a club?

 AF007

 If I want to compete in athletics in Wales do I need to affiliate to Welsh Athletics?

 AF008

 What is the cost of affiliation?

 AF009

 I would like to compete in a Welsh Championship event - how do I know if I'm eligible?

 AF010

 I am an unattached athlete and have never been a member of a club - what must I do to compete in a Welsh Championship event?

 AF011

 I have recently resigned from my club and have not yet joined another club / am serving a transfer penalty period of .. months - what must I do to compete in a Welsh Championship event??

 AG001

 How do I know which age group I am in for track & field?

 AG002

 What is the competition year in track & field athletics?

 AG003

 How do I know which age group I am in for a cross-country?

 AG004

 What is the competition year in cross-country?

 AG005

 I am making a comeback in athletics - at what age do I become a master (formerly veteran) athlete?

 Section 4 - Welsh Athletics Clubs (ref. CL001 - CL002)

 CL001

 How do I find a club in my area suitable for me to join?

 CL002

 We wish to set up a new club - can Welsh Athletics help?

Index of Answers

What is the management structure of Welsh Athletics?

With reference to the diagram downloadable in AD001 immediately above, Welsh Athletics is managed in the four regions by the relevant Regional Board. Each Regional Board supplies a representative to sit on the Welsh Athletics Management Board:
Welsh Athletics Management Board comprises the Officers of the Association (4); the Secretaries for Officials, Coaching & Development, Track & Field, Road Running, Cross-Country and Fell Running (6); Regional representatives (4); the two Directors of Welsh Athletics (2) (all as listed on the Contact page); a representative from each of Welsh Schools and The Sports Council for Wales (2).

How does Welsh Athletics fit into the UK structure?

Within the overall structure of UK:Athletics (UKA, the governing body of athletics in the UK) Wales is classed as a region and is supported as such. However, as a nation in its own right, Wales (and hence Welsh Athletics) retains a high degree of autonomy while continuing to work in partnership with UKA.

What are the Regional Boards responsible for and how do I contact mine?

The Regional Boards are responsible for fulfilling a number of roles within your locality. These are outlined on the Regions page. The Regional Board should act as your first point of contact if you have any ideas, suggestions or even any complaints (!). The Regional Boards may be contacted through their respective secretaries as given on the Contact page.

How do I join (affiliate to) Welsh Athletics as an individual?

Please contact the Welsh Athletics office directly and we will send to you an affiliation form. Alternatively, if you are already a member of a club affiliated to Welsh Athletics, your club membership secretary will be able to provide you with a form.

Can anyone affiliate to Welsh Athletics?

Affiliation to Welsh Athletics is open to all. We welcome the support provided to Welsh Athletics from all including officials, coaches, administrators, club helpers and other volunteers, parents, teachers as well as, of course, the athletes themselves! Top of page

I don't live in Wales can I still join Welsh Athletics?

You may affiliate to Welsh Athletics wherever you live in the world. We have members currently residing across the UK as well as some far flung places such as South America, USA and Australia along with many other countries. If you wish to compete in Wales or for Wales then the eligibility criteria (AF009) will apply. Top of page

Our club would like to join Welsh Athletics - how do we go about this?

Please contact the Welsh Athletics office directly and we will send to you a Club Affiliation Pack. All applications for club affiliation are considered by the Welsh Athletics Management Board which meets approximately every 6 weeks. To be successful in your application you will need to consider factors such as club viability in terms of a minimum membership of at least 10 members, the ability to provide coaching, the creation of a management structure (committee) and development of a constitution. We will be able to support your club and perhaps even help you to grow it, but, like everything, there is an administrative impact on Welsh Athletics and we need to feel confident that your club is sustainable in order to justify our efforts. Top of page

What are the benefits of joining Welsh Athletics as an individual?

Welsh Athletics is able to provide a number of benefits and services to individual members included in the cost of the affiliation fee. These include insurance services covering your activities within athletics as an athlete or coach, a regular newsletter, a website for up-to-the-minute-information, discount benefits from certain suppliers and a wealth of further information and advice from our office staff. Provided you are eligible to compete in Wales (AF009) then by affiliating to Welsh Athletics you open the door to a exciting range of competition / championship possibilities. Top of page

What are the benefits of joining Welsh Athletics as a club?

Welsh Athletics only exists because it is an 'association' - this means that the clubs are the lifeblood of Welsh Athletics. However, Welsh Athletics will not become directly involved in the running of your club - that is your responsibility. Welsh Athletics do, nonetheless, provide a rich vein of support services to clubs ranging from grass roots development initiatives across the regions managed by Welsh Athletics to support recruitment into clubs, to guidance in finding funding for your club, provision of a full range of coach support services - education and development. Contact the Welsh Athletics office to find out how we can best help you. Top of page

 If I want to compete in athletics in Wales do I need to affiliate to Welsh Athletics?

In order to compete in Wales in league and cup competitions, championship events and to perhaps go on to represent your region or country you do need to be both eligible and affiliated to Welsh Athletics. All Welsh athletes in Welsh clubs are required to be registered through the Welsh Athletics membership scheme.. Top of page

What is the cost of affiliation?

The cost of affiliation has now changed, it is now a one off payment off £5. The reason behind this is that Welsh Athletics will no longer be responsible for athlete insurance, the club they compete for now covers the policy of an "athlete insurance"

Schools athletes.

In addition all schools athletes may affiliate for an annual fee of £3.00. However, this limits participation to a maximum of two events (meetings)

Clubs.

There is currently no club affiliation fee. However, clubs will be responsible for ensuring that individual club members are affiliated before they can compete (AF007). It is recommended that a club officer collects affiliation fees and forms from individuals and forwards these to Welsh Athletics in batches.

I would like to compete in a Welsh Championship event - how do I know if I'm eligible?

In order to compete in Welsh League Fixtures, Championships or Cup Competitions or to compete for Wales athletes must be registered with the Athletics Association of Wales and must meet the criteria set out for Welsh Eligibility currently in place.

I am an unattached athlete and have never been a member of a club - what must I do to compete in a Welsh Championship event?

You may compete in a Welsh Championship event provided you are registered with Welsh Athletics either through your educational establishment i.e. school, college etc. or as a member of a club. You may only compete as unattached for a maximum period of 12 months before you must join one of the above.

I have recently resigned from my club and have not yet joined another club / am serving a transfer penalty period of .. months - what must I do to compete in a Welsh Championship event?

You may only compete in a Welsh Championship (or any Open event) as an 'unattached' athlete for up to 28 days after ceasing to be a member of a club - and then only provided your registration with Welsh Athletics is current at the time of the event. Rules stipulate that you must compete in your club, school, regional or national vest. (You may compete in the vest of your former club until as such a time as you join another club.)

Section 3 - Welsh Athletics Age Groups (ref. AG001 - AG005)

What age groups apply in track & field athletics and how do I know which age group I am in?

Recognised age groups for track & field competition in Wales (and the UK) are U13, U15, U17, U20 (Junior), U23, Senior and Veteran - 5 year age bands (AG003). Age groups are based on the age of the athlete on 31st August in the competition year (AG002).
For school age athletes this generally means that an U13 athlete will be in year 6 or 7, an U15 athlete in year 8 or 9 etc. A complete and up-to-date list of competition age groups for the current year is available as a guide on the Fixtures page

What is the competition year in track & field athletics?

The competition year applying in both outdoor and indoor track & field competition runs from 1st October in one year to 30th September in the next. Therefore, if, for example, an athlete is competing as an U15 athlete for their second year in that age group then they will continue to compete as an U15 athlete until 30th September of that year. On the 1st October they will become an U17 athlete in their first year in that age group. So, for indoor competition, starting, say in the November of that year they would compete as an U17 athlete.

How do I know which age group I am in for a cross-country?

Recognised age groups for cross-country competition in Wales (and the UK) are U13, U15, U17, U20 (Junior), U23, Senior and Veteran - 5 year age bands (AG003). Age groups are based on the age of the athlete on 31st August prior to the start of the competition year (AG002).
For school age athletes this generally means that an U13 athlete will be in year 7 or 8, an U15 athlete in year 9 or 10 etc. A complete and up-to-date list of competition age groups for the current year is available as a guide on the Fixtures page

What is the competition year in cross-country?

The competition year applying in cross-country competition runs from 1st October in one year to 30th September in the next. Therefore, if, for example, an athlete is competing as an U15 athlete for their second year in that age group then they will continue to compete as an U15 athlete until 30th September of that year. On the 1st October they will become an U17 athlete in their first year in that age group.

I am making a comeback in athletics - at what age do I become a 'master' (formerly 'veteran') athlete ?

A man becomes a 'master' on his 40th birthday. Whereas, a woman becomes a master on her 35th birthday. Normally, competition for masters is run in five year age bands so that, for example, an athlete enters the 'M45' or 'W45' category on their 45th birthday.

How do I find a club in my area suitable for me to join?

The Welsh Athletics website provides details on all affiliated clubs within Wales including location maps and an overview of what each club offers. Club secretary details are also given. Please visit the Clubs section to find a club that suits your needs.

We wish to set up a new club - can Welsh Athletics help?

Any proposals to set up a new club in Wales that wishes to be affiliated to Welsh Athletics is forwarded to the Welsh Athletics Management Board for consideration. Further information may then be required by the Secretary of the Association.

Where can I obtain a meeting permit for an event I am organising?

Meeting permits for all road races, track & field and cross-country meetings should be obtained through your Regional Permits Secretary. For Sports Hall events please contact the appropriate Welsh Athletics Development Officer. Contact details may be found on the Contact page

I am planning to hold a road race - can I get my course measured officially?

Welsh Athletics can provide full road race planning support including measurement and certification / re-certification through the Welsh Athletics Course Measurement Secretary. For full details visit road running section of the Fixtures page.